I’m trying to figure out which credit card has the best sign-up bonuses right now. I’ve seen a bunch of offers for cash-back cards and travel cards, but I’m not sure which one is the best fit for me. Here are some of the options I’ve been looking at. What do you guys think? Has anyone applied for any of these cards recently?
I got the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, and the 75,000 miles bonus is really worth it if you spend a lot on travel. I hit the $4,000 spending requirement in about two months and used the points to book a flight for next summer.
@DolphGabbana
That’s a solid offer. I don’t travel as much these days, though, so I wonder if I should go for a cash-back card instead. How easy was it to redeem your miles?
Tait said:
@DolphGabbana
That’s a solid offer. I don’t travel as much these days, though, so I wonder if I should go for a cash-back card instead. How easy was it to redeem your miles?
Super easy. You just go to the Capital One travel portal, and you can book flights, hotels, and car rentals directly. Or you can use the ‘erase my purchase’ feature to get a statement credit for travel purchases made elsewhere.
@DolphGabbana
Good to know. I like the flexibility of redeeming miles for travel or getting a credit. I might have to consider this one.
@DolphGabbana
I had a similar experience with the Venture card. The miles stack up quickly if you use it for everyday purchases. Plus, I like that the annual fee is only $95 compared to some of the pricier travel cards out there.
@Porter
That’s definitely a plus. I’ve seen cards with fees as high as $650, which seems steep unless you’re getting serious perks in return.
Tait said:
@Porter
That’s definitely a plus. I’ve seen cards with fees as high as $650, which seems steep unless you’re getting serious perks in return.
Exactly. Unless you’re traveling all the time and using the airport lounge access and other perks, a lower-fee card like the Venture makes more sense for most people.
I just applied for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. The $200 bonus after spending $500 was super easy to hit, and the 2% cash back on all purchases is unbeatable for a no-annual-fee card. I use it for everything now, especially on everyday expenses like groceries and gas.
@Cypress
That sounds like a great option if you’re looking for straightforward cash back. How does the cash back redemption work? Do you get a statement credit?
Tait said:
@Cypress
That sounds like a great option if you’re looking for straightforward cash back. How does the cash back redemption work? Do you get a statement credit?
Yeah, you can redeem it as a statement credit, or you can transfer it to a Wells Fargo account or even get a paper check. Super flexible. I’ve been using it for a couple of months, and it’s nice not having to think about categories or bonus rates.
@Cypress
I’ve been looking at that card, too. I like the idea of flat-rate cash back instead of worrying about rotating categories. How long did it take for the bonus to post after you hit the spending requirement?
@JosephGeorges
It posted pretty quickly—about a week after I hit the $500. It’s one of the most straightforward cards I’ve ever had.
Anyone looking for travel bonuses should check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. I earned 60,000 points after spending $4,000, which I transferred to one of Chase’s airline partners. It’s perfect for maximizing the value of your points, and I love the flexibility of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.
@Sayer
I’ve heard great things about Chase Ultimate Rewards. How do the points transfer work with airlines? Do you get a good value when you transfer?
Tait said:
@Sayer
I’ve heard great things about Chase Ultimate Rewards. How do the points transfer work with airlines? Do you get a good value when you transfer?
The value really depends on the airline, but if you transfer to partners like United or Southwest, you can get more value per point compared to redeeming them through Chase’s travel portal. It takes a little bit of research, but it’s totally worth it.
@Sayer
I’ll have to look into that. I travel a few times a year, so transferring points to an airline might be a good strategy.
Tait said:
@Sayer
I’ve heard great things about Chase Ultimate Rewards. How do the points transfer work with airlines? Do you get a good value when you transfer?
I just got the Sapphire Preferred as well, and I’m planning to use the points for an upcoming hotel stay. Chase also has some great hotel transfer partners like Hyatt and Marriott.
@JakeFinancePro
Hyatt points are usually a great value from what I’ve heard. Do you think the $95 annual fee is worth it?
Tait said:
@JakeFinancePro
Hyatt points are usually a great value from what I’ve heard. Do you think the $95 annual fee is worth it?
Definitely, if you use the points strategically. Plus, the Sapphire Preferred offers perks like travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees, which really add to its value if you’re a frequent traveler.